The German Industry Today: A Review of Some Current Projects with Emphasis on Jet Lift Work

WITH a labour force of the order of 30,000 personnel and licence production of the Lockheed F.104G Starfighter gradually reaching fulfilment, the German Federal Republic aircraft industry is looking to new horizons. The process of rebuilding the West German industry has progressed slowly over the last fifteen years or so, beginning with the production of gliders and light aircraft and progressing to major indigenous types via licence production of a range of sophisticated military types. A skilled engineering force is now available as well as most of the facilities, required to support a modern, albeit small by comparison with the United States or Britain, aerospace industry in terms of research, development, testing and production. While ‘inter‐dependence’ is a major feature of German aircraft industry policy, there is every incentive to ‘go it alone’ particularly in some advanced field where the other major industries of the Western world have yet to make their mark.